11/07/2014 BBC News at Six

Tens of thousands more people could be allowed weight-loss surgery

on the NHS. There are plans to allow many more

obese people to have gastric bands fitted to tackle an epidemic

of type 2 diabetes. Fantastic, it has brought me back to

life, I have got myself a job, I am back working, I can do things which

I could not do before. back working, I can do

Each operation costs more than ?5,000, can the NHS of audit?

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Good evening, and welcome to the BBC News At Six.

Tens of thousands more people in England could be eligible

for weight-loss surgery in a bid to tackle an epidemic

of type 2 diabetes. The health watchdog says gastric

bands or bypass procedures would help reduce complications linked

to obesity. Each operation costs

at least ?5,000. The proposals suggest doctors should

consider surgery for diabetics with a so-called

body-mass index of 30 or more. That is lower than

the current advice. To give you an example, a man who is

five foot nine and weighs 14 and a half stone would be sent

for an assessment, as would a woman who is five foot three and weighs

at least 12 stone four pounds. It is a new life for Mark, a

healthier diet and no more medication. He has type two diabetes

and was struggling until he had weight loss surgery on the NHS. A

gastric bypass to shrink his stomach. The plan would enable more

patients to follow his example. It has been hard, but fantastic, it has

brought me back to life, I have got a job, I am back working, I can do

things which I could not do before, I can walk, there is a lot of

difference, I am a lot healthier. The proposal will potentially

increase the workload of clinics like this at University College

Hospital in London. There are special beds and chairs to make

obese patients feel their needs are being met. There has been an

increase in referrals here by GPs. For those who get as far as weight

loss surgery, there was a total of 8000 operations in England in 2012,

more than double since 2009. The operation costs ?5,000, with more

for after-care and checkups. Between five and 20,000 more people could be

eligible. Surgeons say money will be saved because diabetics would

otherwise require expensive care. In the longer term, the health economic

is beneficial. There is a cost saving, long-term. It is not too

long term, evidence suggests three or four years. Does this provide a

lasting solution to the obesity problem, seen as a major health

challenge for society, increasing demand for treatment thing to the

strain on NHS budgets? Many experts argue that prevention is the